★ All Updates for Patch 5
☆ Beginner Guides for All Starter Players
★ Simple Character Creation Guide for beginners
☆ A Full Guide to Multiclassing
★ All Side Quests and Event Points
☆ All Races and Subraces
The School of Necromancy is a Wizard subclass in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3). Check out our guide for how to unlock the School of Necromancy subclass, its features, as well as the best build.
Wizard Subclasses Wizard Class Guide |
|||
---|---|---|---|
Abjuration | Conjuration | Divination | Enchantment |
Evocation | Illusion | Necromancy | Transmutation |
List of Contents
Subclass Overview | |
---|---|
School of Necromancy You walk through the valley of the shadow of death, and make lots of friends there. |
|
Main Class | Wizard |
How to Unlock | Reach Wizard Level 2. |
Spellcasting Ability | Intelligence |
Starting Subclass Features | |
・Grants the Necromancy Savant Passive. ・Grants the Grim Harvest Passive. ・All Wizard Class Features and Proficiencies. |
Necromancers use spells that alter life and reanimate the dead. In battle they can summon undead thralls to aid them, all while they heal themselves using the damage dealt by their Necromancy spells.
The School of Necromancy subclass will become available once your Wizard reaches Level 2. In order to earn EXP and level up in Baldur's Gate 3, players will need to complete quests, discover new areas, or defeat enemies they find in the world.
School of Necromancy Features | |
---|---|
Necromancy Savant | Grim Harvest |
Undead Thralls Additional Undead |
Undead Thralls Better Summons |
Animate Dead | Inured to Undeath |
▼ Subclass Level Progression Table ▼ |
Upon unlocking the Necromancy subclass at Level 2, your Wizard will get the Necromancy Savant passive. With this active, learning Necromancy spells from spell scrolls will only cost 25 Gold per spell level.
Spell Level | Gold Cost |
---|---|
Level 1 | 25 Gold |
Level 2 | 50 Gold |
Level 3 | 75 Gold |
Level 4 | 100 Gold |
Level 5 | 125 Gold |
Level 6 | 150 Gold |
Upon picking the Necromancy subclass at Level 2, you will gain access to the Grim Harvest passive feature. When active, killing enemies with a spell will heal you. The healing amount will be double the spell level of the spell used to deal the killing blow; triple if the spell was a Necromancy spell.
Spell Level | HP Healed | |
---|---|---|
Regular Spell | Necromancy Spell | |
1 | 2 HP | 3 HP |
2 | 4 HP | 6 HP |
3 | 6 HP | 9 HP |
4 | 8 HP | 12 HP |
5 | 10 HP | 15 HP |
6 | 12 HP | 18 HP |
At Level 6, your Necromancer will gain a passive called Undead Thralls: Additional Undead. Once active, using Animate Dead to raise a zombie or skeleton will give you one extra zombie or skeleton.
On top of the additional summon, Undead Thralls: Better Summons will also be available at Level 6. Once active, this passive will grant your re-animated thralls extra HP equal to your Wizard's level. Your Proficiency Bonus will also be added to their damage when this is active.
Level | Bonus HP | Bonus Damage |
---|---|---|
6 | 6 HP | +3 Damage |
12 | 12 HP | +4 Damage |
Once you hit Level 6, you will get the Level 3 Animate Dead spell for free (that is, if you had not learned it beforehand). Do note that you will still need to expend a Level 3 Spell Slot to cast it.
At Level 10 you gain the Inured to Undeath passive feature. Once obtained, your Wizard will become more resistant to Necrotic damage. Additionally, you become immune to any effects that reduce your Hit Point maximum.
Level | Subclass Features Unlocked |
---|---|
Level 2 |
・Necromancy Savant (Passive) ・Grim Harvest (Passive) |
Level 6 |
・Animate Dead (Spell) ・Undead Thralls: Additional Undead (Passive) ・Undead Thralls: Better Summons (Passive) |
Level 10 | ・Inured to Undeath (Passive) |
Recommended Equipment | |
---|---|
Helm | Circle of Bones |
Armor | - |
Gloves | Hr'a'cknir Bracers |
Boots | Disintegrating Night Walkers |
Recommended Weapons | |
Melee | Staff of Cherished Necromancy |
Ranged | - |
Recommended Accessories | |
Amulet | Spellcrux Amulet |
Ring 1 | Crypt Lord Ring |
Ring 2 | Keepsake Ring |
Note: This build is subject to change as we're currently testing and searching for better gear in the game!
The items on this build are all scattered throughout all three acts. If you don't have them yet, it's best to buy a +1 equipment of the same type from a merchant until you get them.
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Circle of Bones | Helmet | Undead Ward: Allied undead within 6m are Resistant to Bludgeoning, Slashing, and Piercing damage. |
Circle of Bones can passively protect your thralls that are within 6m of range, giving them resistance to Bludgeoning, Slashing, and Piercing damage.
How to Get the Circle of Bones
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Hr'a'cknir Bracers | Gloves | Quickened Mage Hand: You can cast Mage Hand as a bonus action. Strength Saving Throws +1 |
Equipping Hr'a'cknir Bracers allows you to use Mage Hand as a bonus action. It also grants you the ability to use Telekinesis which allows you to throw creatures and objects without using spell slots.
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Disintegrating Night Walkers | Boots | Night Walker: Can't be Enwebbed, Entangled, or Ensnared and can't slip on grease or ice. |
Disintegrating Night Walkers is the recommended boots for Necromancers as it allows you to use Misty Step. This spell allows you to teleport to any nearby location to gain positional advantage.
How to Get the Disintegrating Night Walkers
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Staff of Cherished Necromancy | Quarterstaff | Heightened Necromancy: Creatures have Disadvantage on Saving Throws against your Necromancy spells. Life Essence Harvest: When the wielder kills a hostile creature with a spell, they greedily absorb its energy and gain Life Essence until their next Long Rest. Weapon Enchantment +2 |
Staff of Cherished Necromancy applies saving throw disadvantage on enemies when using Necromancy Spells. It also provides Life Essence when an enemy falls after using a spell, allowing you to use Necromancy Spells without using spell slots.
How to Get the Staff of Cherished Necromancy
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Spellcrux Amulet | Amulet | Grants Spell Slot Restoration Class Action |
Spellcrux Amulet can help you restore any missing spell slots as it grants you an extra Spell Slot Restoration when equipped.
How to Get the Spellcrux Amulet
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Crypt Lord Ring | Ring | Grants Create Undead Class Action |
Crypt Lord Ring allows you to use Create Undead without using your spell slots. Equip this if you want to use more thralls during battles.
How to Get the Crypt Lord Ring
Item | Type | Effect |
---|---|---|
Keepsake Ring | Ring | Grants Dominate Beast Class Action |
Equipping the Keepsake Ring allows you to control any nearby beasts by using the Dominate Beast Class Action, making them fight alongside you.
If you're planning to rely on your summoned thralls during combat, you can choose Githyanki as your main race. Githyanki can learn a lot of movement spells that can help navigate the area safely.
Githyanki Race Guide and Best Classes
Wood Elf provides movement speed, allowing you to reach advantageous positions when casting spells.
Wood Half-Elf Subrace Guide and Best Classes
Asmodeus Tiefling is also one of the recommended races for Necromancers. It provides fire resistance and allows you to learn more spells as cantrips.
Asmodeus Tiefling Subrace Guide and Best Classes
STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
8 | 15 (+1) | 14 | 16(+2) | 10 | 10 |
As a Necromancer, you still need to focus on maximizing your Intelligence as this is the primary ability for all Wizards.
Dexterity should also be prioritized next to Intelligence as this can help you land your spells more efficiently.
War Caster is a good feat to choose when using necrotic spells that needs concentration like Vampiric Touch.
War Caster Feat Guide and Effects
Ability Improvements is one of the best go-to feats for Wizards as it can enhance your Intelligence further.
Ability Improvements Feat Guide and Effects
Like Ability Improvements, Resilient can also maximize your Intelligence further. You also gain Saving Throw Proficiency for Intelligence once you select this as one of your feats.
Resilient Feat Guide and Effects
All Wizard Subclasses | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Abjuration | Conjuration | Divination | |||
Enchantment | Evocation | Illusion | |||
Necromancy | Transmutation |
School of Necromancy Subclass Guide and Build
Genshin Impact Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon TCG Pocket (PTCGP) Strategies & Guides Wiki
Call of Duty Black Ops 6 (BO6) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Honkai: Star Rail Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Metaphor: ReFantazio Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Zenless Zone Zero Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Scarlet and Violet (SV) Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Throne and Liberty Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Palworld Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Pokemon Legends: Arceus Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
New Pokemon Snap Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Elden Ring Shadow of the Erdtree Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
FF7 Remake Walkthrough & Guides Wiki
© 2023 Larian Studios. All rights reserved. Larian Studios is a registered trademark of arrakis nv, affiliate of Larian Studios Games ltd. All company names, brand names, trademarks and logos are the property of their respective owners. © 2020 Wizards of the coast. All rights reserved. Wizards of the coast, Baldur’s Gate, Dungeons & Dragons, D&D, and their respective logos. Are registered trademarks of wizards of the coast LLC
The copyrights of videos of games used in our content and other intellectual property rights belong to the provider of the game.
The contents we provide on this site were created personally by members of the Game8 editorial department.
We refuse the right to reuse or repost content taken without our permission such as data or images to other sites.